Supporting Children’s Language Learning in Lockdown

Speaking a second language is a skill that many of us consider an attractive prospect. It opens the door to an entirely different culture and offers a fresh way of expressing ourselves with many new people. It can also boost employability and give us an edge in both personal and academic situations.

A major advantage of language learning, though, is its potential to boost our brain power. Several studies have pointed towards the benefit of multilingualism for our brains. A study by the University of Montreal found that people who speak more than one language are better at saving brain power and are less prone to being distracted, while a more recent research on bilingualism has suggested that it may delay cognitive decline.

Perhaps most pertinent however, given the climate we find ourselves in, is the positive impact that language learning can have on our mental health. A study in Current Biology found that successfully learning the meaning of new words when studying a foreign language activates a part of the brain called the ventral striatum, where reward processing occurs. This region, sometimes referred to as the brain’s pleasure center, is also activated when you eat a piece of chocolate. Put simply, these activities both make you feel good.

At a time when we are facing what are, for many, unprecedented circumstances, it is vitally important that the home-schooling we provide for our children not only helps them keep on track with the curriculum, we also want to ensure that learning is positive, engaging, and exciting. It is for this reason that adding language learning to your child’s schedule could be just the thing for keeping them mentally active, while also providing them with a positive skill that can last a lifetime.

Belle spoke to Jennifer Dorman, Senior Instructional Designer in Didactics at leading language learning app, Babbel, for her advice on how to help get the best out of your child, and to make learning fun for all the family.

Here’s her advice… 

Work out what kind of learner your child is and use this to your advantage

Is your child a lark or an owl? Are they an aural or oral learner, do they learn kinesthetically or visually? By working out how your child learns, you can create a positive and fun environment, all the while working in tune with your child’s natural energy levels. Finding that perfect 30-minutes a day to run vocab, speak conversationally, or get a grip on the basics can lead to hugely accelerated results. An added bonus, due to its perfect timing, this half hour may fast become the highlight of your child’s daily routine.

Take a turn in the hot seat

Linguists at Yale University encourage children and parents to reverse roles. After a session, ask your child to teach you what they have just learnt. Laugh together as you do this, and encourage them to correct your pronunciation and misspellings. Bond with your child in an environment that makes them feel safe and comfortably challenged by gaining knowledge and learning together.

Find an excuse to celebrate

Celebrate a national holiday and bring language to life! Once you’ve chosen a language to learn, immerse yourself in that culture. Explore local cuisines and observe important traditions. Research by the University of Melbourne reveals the inextricable link between language and culture, and the benefit cultural exposure brings to the learning journey: the study states that when we learn another language, we are learning not only the words used by speakers of that language to designate everyday objects and ideas, but we also gain insight into other ways of thinking about, and relating to, the world. So, if you’re learning French, why not decorate the house with French flags you’ve drawn together for Bastille Day, or cook some authentic French food while brushing up on essential vocab.

Embrace international snail mail

Whatever your age, it is exciting to receive overseas mail! Encourage children to disconnect from tech and write to a pen-pal. With careful adult supervision, your child might discover lifelong friends and roads to international discovery. Additionally, having a pen-pal can reveal a whole new world, as children begin to see that their own cultural perspective is just one view amongst many.

Redecorate your home with multilingual post-it notes

Parents can make learning another language tangible and encourage creativity by labeling objects around the house with post-it notes, or homemade signs. Because children use movement, visual aids and spatial memory to recall phrases and vocabulary, difficult or commonly forgotten words can be remembered with ease when made visible in daily life. Why don’t you label up a different room in the house each week, or have your child markup the weekly shop to help improve their foreign vocabulary skills?

Play games, sing songs and take to the stage!

Learning doesn’t need to be stationary or silent. Many children, whilst at home, will engage in fantasy play: building shops or pretending to run a restaurant. Creating mock scenarios, such as buying lunch or asking for directions, will help children better engage with their learning. You can make the plots comical or dramatic, you could even dress up. Familiar card games, such as ‘Go Fish’ can also be played in another language, and the translated lyrics to familiar nursery rhymes or songs can easily be found online. Playing, singing and acting in another language can work wonders in terms of ensuring retention, and it prevents boredom, too!

Don’t be afraid to use technology

Whilst we are often reluctant to offer too much screen time, educational apps can be a hugely beneficial resource. Many offer the opportunity to practice pronunciation as well as the written word, meaning that if you are not fluent in the language your child is learning, and are hesitant about correcting their accent, having them engage with an app like Babbel that offers this function can be incredibly helpful. In fact, to help support teachers and parents alike, Babbel has made its platform completely free for the next month. Students (or their parents or guardian) need only apply via the Babbel website using their valid school email addresses to redeem a unique activation code: https://www.babbel.com/en/magazine/babbel-free-month-for-students.

Whilst these are difficult times, and many parents may be feeling out of their depth, the time spent at home with your child gives you a unique opportunity to become truly ingrained in their learning journey, making you better-placed to support them with their study once they return to the classroom. By making learning together fun and immersive, memories will likely be made that your family will treasure for life.